Co-op Bank to face independent inquiry over Flowers

Paul Flowers

Chancellor George Osborne is to order an independent inquiry into how former Rochdale Councillor the Reverend Paul Flowers was deemed a suitable chairman of the Co-op Bank.

Flowers, 63, is the subject of a police investigation following revelations in a national newspaper that he had been caught on film buying crystal meth and cocaine.

During his time as a councillor in Rochdale, Flowers was the vice chairman of Rochdale Social Services Committee during the Rochdale Satanic Abuse scandal that saw 21 children taken into care amid false allegations of horrendous criminal acts being perpetrated by the children's parents, allegedly members of a Satanic Ritual Abuse 'cult'.

Flowers left Rochdale under a cloud when very serious accusations were levelled at him by local Conservative activists and it is understood he has a conviction for indecency after he was caught in a public lavatory with another man.

The Methodist Church said Mr Flowers had been "suspended indefinitely" from his post as a minister.

He had stepped down as chairman of Co-op Bank and as deputy chairman of Co-op Group in June.

It has also emerged that he was found to have had "inappropriate" adult images on his computer in 2011 while he was a Labour councillor in Bradford and before he was appointed chair of governors at a primary school in Bradford.

The inquiry into the Co-op is to be ordered by the chancellor and arranged by the Prudential Regulation Authority, under powers Mr Osborne obtained in the 2012 Financial Services Act.

"This would be a long and detailed investigation by an independent expert into events at the Co-op Bank," he said.

But this cannot begin until the police have concluded their investigation into the allegations that Flowers bought and used illegal drugs, including cocaine.

West Yorkshire Police officers searched Flowers' Bradford home on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the Methodist Church said: "Paul is being offered pastoral care, and we ask for prayers for all involved in this matter."

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/83728/former-local-councillor-and-methodist-minister-filmed-buying-crystal-meth-and-cocaine